2016-12-30 Fri

When a damaged ancient wall at the Tower of David Museum was being restored, a 2,000-year-old coin related to the story of Hanukkah was discovered accidentally. The Jewish priestly line called Hasmoneans or Maccabees defeated the Greek ruler, Antiochus Epiphanes, after which the Hanukkah came into existence. The Greek king tried to make it illegal for the Jews to keep the Bible.

One side of the coin features the crowned King Antiochus and the other side features the Greek god of Agriculture named Demeter. The Greek letters forming the word Antiochus is also inscribed.

Jewish people are not allowed to show or to draw figures as per one of the 10 commandments which says that there should be no "graven images" or "likenesses."

The power of the Greeks is showcased on the coin. It was probably worth 25 cents in those times but now, its value is $25,000. After the Greeks were defeated, their new coins featured the image of the menorah – the candelabra prescribed in the Bible and found in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.